ARRL Media Literacy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'signal-to-noise ratio' mean when applied to media and information quality?
- The ratio of useful information to irrelevant or misleading content (Correct answer)
- The volume level of a broadcast signal
- The number of trusted sources versus unreliable ones
- The frequency range used by a radio station
Correct answer: The ratio of useful information to irrelevant or misleading content
Signal-to-noise ratio in media literacy refers to the proportion of valuable, accurate information compared to distracting, irrelevant, or false content.
Question 2: Which technique do propagandists often use to make a weak argument seem stronger than it is?
- Peer review
- Card stacking (Correct answer)
- Triangulation
- Source attribution
Correct answer: Card stacking
Card stacking selectively presents only favorable evidence while omitting contradictory facts, making a one-sided case appear comprehensive.
Question 3: A ham radio operator hears a news report claiming a large earthquake struck a specific city. What is the best first step to verify this?
- Immediately relay the report on all available frequencies
- Cross-check with multiple independent sources such as USGS or official emergency management agencies (Correct answer)
- Trust the report since it came from a licensed broadcaster
- Ask other hams on the repeater if they heard the same report
Correct answer: Cross-check with multiple independent sources such as USGS or official emergency management agencies
Cross-checking with authoritative, independent sources like USGS or FEMA is essential before acting on or relaying unverified emergency claims.
Question 4: What is 'astroturfing' in the context of media and public opinion?
- Spreading accurate information through grassroots networks
- A method of encrypting radio transmissions
- Creating the false impression of widespread public support for a position (Correct answer)
- Fact-checking news articles before publication
Correct answer: Creating the false impression of widespread public support for a position
Astroturfing is a deceptive practice where coordinated campaigns masquerade as spontaneous grassroots movements to manufacture the appearance of popular support.
Question 5: Why is anecdotal evidence generally considered weaker than statistical evidence in evaluating media claims?
- Anecdotes are always fabricated
- Individual stories may not represent the broader population or pattern (Correct answer)
- Statistics are easier to fabricate than personal stories
- Anecdotal evidence is illegal to cite in journalism
Correct answer: Individual stories may not represent the broader population or pattern
A single personal story can be genuine yet still be an outlier that doesn't reflect the typical experience, making it unreliable for drawing broad conclusions.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'primary source' in research and media literacy?
- An article summarizing another article
- An original document, data, or firsthand account from the time or event in question (Correct answer)
- A secondary newspaper that quotes a primary paper
- Any government website regardless of content
Correct answer: An original document, data, or firsthand account from the time or event in question
A primary source provides direct, firsthand evidence such as original research data, official records, or eyewitness accounts without intermediary interpretation.
Question 7: When evaluating an online article about amateur radio regulations, which domain extension is most likely to indicate an authoritative US government source?
- .com
- .org
- .gov (Correct answer)
- .net
Correct answer: .gov
The .gov domain is reserved exclusively for official US government entities, making it the most reliable indicator of authoritative regulatory information.
ARRL Media Literacy 2
What does the term 'signal-to-noise ratio' mean when applied to media and information quality?